We all saw it coming. Icy road conditions, subzero temperatures and dangerous wind chills were predicted for the start of the week. By Monday, it was clear that travel the next day would be difficult at best. By 9 p.m., every primary and secondary school and some colleges in the Omaha area had canceled school for Tuesday, and many daycares shut down in anticipation of dangerous road conditions.

Last Tuesday, while the rest of the nation was watching the president's State of the Union address, the city of Omaha headed to the voting booths to decide whether Mayor Jim Suttle should stay in office. The final tally was very close - a margin of just two percent decided he should keep his job. There's a lesson there: if you don't think your vote counts, think again.